Hi Tatum!
Welcome to the forums! And welcome to LA!
Narrow spaces can be challenging but there is always a way to have a well designed space.
I think the main trap people fall into when decorating or laying out a long narrow room is the “wall hugging disorder” or that’s what I call it. That’s when you let the shape of the room dictate your layout and you just line the walls instead of taking advantage of the center of the room. People also tend to mimic the shape of the room and bring in long narrow furniture like benches, etc. because they think it’s all that fits. When really, you want to bring in round and oval items to offset the rectangular shape.
If you don’t have a dining room, I’d embrace your living area as a dining room and lounge space and get a large round coffee table to inhabit the center of the room in front of your couch. Then you can get some poufs, (I love these http://rstyle.me/n/bn6bg9hi9w or these cotton ones: http://rstyle.me/n/bn6bc9hi9w ) and have meals on your coffee table sitting on the poufs! That’s literally how Joey and I eat every dinner and we even have a dining table!
Yaaas: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AbW4-4VYBlrxV-ElSe6s1W_-wvcKW6MB9IbMrwlc-pOBC1mLsZMs7ww/
VIbes: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AShrKbIjSpE_P1bldMHTghaB_3B-aoiYEUjCc4q34KVQijN-nXb-f2o/
Round coffee table with furniture around it: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/541909767633117960/ – but I think get something bigger than this so it feels more inviting for food.
Or store the poufs under a rectangle coffee table https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435652963925060286/
Layout and I love the picture ledge! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/247698048229415051/ Ikea has a cheap one
Good long narrow layout with coffee table and chairs in center to break up rectangle https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZsMjxW0IiZoelkhka3U7FzLCI58jEEoqVPrue7ELifKw0wyvZikz2c/
Add a table cloth and it’s a dinner party! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/541065342711134579/
Something I always tell people too is to remember that decorating is a 360 degree experience. So don’t forget about your walls and windows and even ceilings. Hanging a cool light fixture over your coffee table or hanging plants in the corner. The human eye is trained to scan its surroundings so give it stuff to look at!
Hope that helps and best of luck with the move! We’d love to see pics of your space! Keep posting in this thread with photos or any more questions or comments.
XO!
– mr. kate
